Z-Wave Alliance Appoints New International Evangelists

Milpitas, CA, August 9, 2012 – The Z-Wave Alliance, an international consortium of companies that oversee the world's largest interoperable ecosystem for wireless control products and services, today announced that it has named two new "Evangelists" for the Japanese and Brazilian markets.

Both Japan and Brazil recently authorized radio frequency ranges for low-power RF device usage, opening the markets to the world of interoperable Z-Wave products, and creating the opportunity for leading figures in those markets to join the Alliance as Z-Wave Evangelists.

In Japan, the Alliance has appointed industry veteran Hitoshi Kubota as its Z-Wave Alliance Evangelist. Mr. Kubota has more than 40 years of professional experience in the computer and network industry. Most recently he has served as the senior advisor for companies throughout the energy management industry as a Smart Grid architect. Mr. Kubota will work to ensure Z-Wave's rapid adoption in the Japanese market, and its use to solve important challenges in energy, independent aging and other automation and control applications.

For the Brazilian region, the Z-Wave Alliance has appointed Evangelist Jean Pascal Nathan De Simone, who brings 20 years of experience in marketing and international business development throughout four different continents, with particular expertise in identifying reliable sources for emerging technologies and potential products. Mr. De Simone holds Master’s Degrees in both Lighting Design and Business Administration. At a time when home control was almost completely unknown in his country, Jean brought the first Z-Wave products into Brazil. "We're thrilled to bring both Hitoshi and Jean on board as Z-Wave Evangelists for the Japanese and Brazilian markets," said Mark Walters, Chairman of the Z-Wave Alliance. "Their experience and expertise makes them perfect choices to expand Z-Wave's international presence in their respective regions, and their passion for Z-Wave technology will open many rewarding business possibilities throughout these key markets."

50th certified product announced in June of this year. These certifications further demonstrate the rapid worldwide growth of Z-Wave as a key enabling technology behind the "Internet of Things."

The Z-Wave Alliance also announced that it has named industry veteran, Hitoshi Kubota, as the Z-Wave Alliance Evangelist in Japan. Mr.Kubota has more than 40 years of professional experience in the computer and network industry. Most recently he served as the senior advisor for companies in energy management industry as Smart Grid Architect. Mr. Kubota will work to ensure Z-Wave's rapid adoption in the Japanese market and its use to solve important challenges in energy, aging and other automation and control applications. Mr. Kubota can be reached at hitoshi@z-wavealliance.org.

Established in 2005, the Z-Wave Alliance is an open consortium of leading companies worldwide dedicated to delivering affordable, reliable easy-to-use, wireless home control products and services. With more than 600 interoperable products certified and over 160 members, the Alliance represents the largest ecosystem of wireless control products in existence and the global, brand-recognized companies that bring these products and services to market. The Alliance supports its members with marketing, networking, technical forums, training, best practices, test and certification tools and a complete interoperability lab. For more information on or to join the Alliance, please email info@z-wavealliance.org or visit www.z-wavealliance.org.

Z-Wave(R) is a registered trade mark of Sigma Designs and its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.